18Titles
Explore publications and collections from the past.
Community History Archive Partner
Somerville Fayette County Library
Somerville, Tennessee
Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of Somerville.
1821 to 1866Dates represented
See individual titles for available dates.
33,142Archive pages
Historical pages reported for this collection.
Explore local history
Discover the people, places, and stories of Somerville, Tennessee.
Get to know Somerville, Tennessee in earlier years through land and property records shared in the Somerville Fayette County Library's digital archive. Its eighteen titles include material from 1821 to 1866.
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Selected titles
Somerville Fayette County Library shares titles including “Deed Books - 1837-1838” as well as “Register Of Deeds, Vol X, Jan 1866 To Jan 1867”.
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Free and open access
No subscription or payment required.
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Ways to explore
A question connected with Somerville can begin in different parts of this collection. Let each source add its own perspective.
The records people leave behind offer perspectives on earlier ways of life, connecting individual experiences with the events and institutions around them. Bring a family connection, a question about a familiar place or an interest in local history, and see where the sources lead. Explore the archive online for free, without a subscription.
Explore the collection
Titles in this collection
Browse eighteen titles and 33,142 digitized pages, with material from 1821 to 1866. A partnership between Somerville Fayette County Library and Advantage Archives makes this collection available. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown.
A familiar name or place can be the beginning of a story. Explore the titles below to see where that connection leads.
Deed Books - 1837-1838
2,424 pages in 1837
Deed Books 1821-1881
2,238 pages in 1821
Deed Books 1825-1829
3,476 pages in 1825
Deed Books 1835-1837
2,866 pages in 1835
Deed Books 1839-1842
3,062 pages in 1839
Deed Books 1842-1845
2,736 pages in 1842
Register Of Deeds, Vol M, Oct 1845 To Jun 1847
1,252 pages in 1845
Register Of Deeds, Vol N, Jun 1847 To Jan 1849
1,208 pages in 1847
Register Of Deeds, Vol O, Jan 1849 To Jun 1850
1,324 pages in 1849
Register Of Deeds, Vol P, Mar 1850 To Jul 1851
1,308 pages in 1850
Register Of Deeds, Vol Q, Aug 1851 To Dec 1852
1,384 pages in 1851
Register Of Deeds, Vol R, Dec 1852 To Apr 1854
1,308 pages in 1852
Register Of Deeds, Vol S, Apr 1854 To Mar 1855
1,338 pages in 1854
Register Of Deeds, Vol T, Mar 1855 To Nov 1856
1,308 pages in 1855
Register Of Deeds, Vol U, Nov 1856 To Jul 1858
1,492 pages in 1856
Register Of Deeds, Vol V, Jul 1858 To Dec 1860
1,912 pages in 1858
Register Of Deeds, Vol W, Dec 1860 To Jan 1866
1,454 pages in 1860
Register Of Deeds, Vol X, Jan 1866 To Jan 1867
1,052 pages in 1866
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About the Archive
About The Somerville Fayette County Library's History Archives
- Deed Books 1821-1881 (1821)
- Deed Books 1825-1829 (1825)
- Deed Books 1835-1837 (1835)
- Deed Books 1837-1838 (1837)
- Deed Books 1839-1842 (1839)
- Deed Books 1842-1845 (1842)
- Register Of Deeds, Vol M (1845)
- Register Of Deeds, Vol N (1847)
- Register Of Deeds, Vol O (1849)
- Register Of Deeds, Vol P (1850)
- Register Of Deeds, Vol Q (1851)
- Register Of Deeds, Vol R (1852)
- Register Of Deeds, Vol S (1854)
- Register Of Deeds, Vol T (1855)
- Register Of Deeds, Vol U (1856)
- Register Of Deeds, Vol V (1858)
- Register Of Deeds, Vol W (1860)
- Register Of Deeds, Vol X (1866)
About the Library
About The Somerville Fayette County Library
The Somerville Fayette County Library stands as a cornerstone of educational, informational, and cultural resources in Fayette County, Tennessee. Established to support the community's evolving needs, the library provides a vast array of materials and programs within an inviting and expansive setting. Its mission aligns closely with its dedication to enriching the lives of its patrons and fostering an environment of learning, creativity, and community engagement.
Partner Story
The History Of Somerville and Fayette County
Fayette County, established in 1824 by the Tennessee General Assembly, quickly became a focal point of growth and development in Tennessee. Somerville, named in honor of Lieutenant Robert Somerville and incorporated in 1836, has been the county seat since the county's inception. The area has a rich history marked by its early establishment of religious institutions, its strategic role during the Civil War, and its evolution from agricultural to more suburban developments. The library's archives serve as a gateway to this profound history, offering insights into the land and its people over centuries.
Local History
Did You Know?
The town of Somerville was named after Lieutenant Robert Somerville, a hero of the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, reflecting the area's deep military roots. Fayette County was pivotal during the Civil Rights Movement, with tent cities established for sharecroppers who were expelled from their homes for attempting to register to vote. The First Presbyterian Church of Somerville, one of the oldest churches in the county, was founded in 1829, underlining the community's early prioritization of religious structures.
More ways to explore and share local history
Research Guidance
Follow a property description carefully
A question about Somerville may lead you to land and property records in the collection shared by the Somerville Fayette County Library. Start with the title, date, and page or item reference where shown, then follow one detail that fits your search. The material type offers a direction; the source’s own wording and context determine what it can support. Note the recorded date, location, parcel, or legal description where supplied. A deed or assessment reflects a particular record and purpose; it does not by itself establish continuous ownership, modern boundaries, or market value.
Compare a description with another dated record or map where available. Keep historical place names and boundaries in their own context before connecting them to a present-day address.
As you piece together a story from the past, note where each detail came from and why it matters. Include the title, date, and page or item reference. Mark uncertain identifications and unanswered questions so a promising connection does not become an unsupported fact.
Community Partnership
Keeping local history a community resource
This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the Somerville Fayette County Library, its community, and Advantage Archives. Together, these partnerships preserve local sources and give people a way to explore, learn from, and share the history around them.
Advantage Archives covers ongoing archive hosting, storage, development, and maintenance. The institution and its community do not pay a subscription, seat license, annual support contract, or other recurring archive-service charge. Local history remains a community resource, not a subscription to maintain.
Would you like to see more of your community's history preserved and accessible? Start a conversation with your library, newspaper publisher, historical or genealogical society, museum, or school about the materials they would like to share and a possible partnership with Advantage Archives.
Learn about partnerships
Stories, research tips, and archive news
Read All About It connects archive research with the people and institutions preserving local history. Explore partner and community stories, project updates, research ideas, and perspectives on digitization, education, and working with primary sources. Use the articles as a starting point for your next question or a new way to share a discovery.
May 7, 2025
Why Microfilm is still important in 2023
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May 7, 2025
Don’t Search For An Obituary By Only Searching For An “Obituary”
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April 9, 2025
Unveiling the Hidden Mysteries: Exploring Cold Cases and Unconventional Clues
Even the most esteemed police forces in the county encounter perplexing cold case files. These unsolved mysteries often leave investigators and genealogists…
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April 1, 2025
This Week in History: March 31st through April 6th
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March 24, 2025
This Week in History: March 24th through March 30th
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March 18, 2025
It’s Your Community’s History, So Why Rent Something You Own?
We believe that history belongs to the communities where it was made - not locked behind paywalls or inaccessible due to budget restrictions. Subscription-based services and large content aggregators are generally more concerned with "content" and less concerned with the history that content contains. Their models typically involve a reoccurring charge for a plan that renews annually or licensing agreements with the library based on population served or circulation numbers. You are essentially Renting Access To YOUR History.
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